Staph infections

The staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria is a relatively common type of bacteria that usually doesn't cause any harm. However, a staph infection can occur when the staph bacteria enters the body and multiplies.

What is a staph infection?

Around one third of people carry staph bacteria either on the surface of their skin or in their nose, and in most cases it does not cause any problems.

However, if it does enter the body the bacteria might multiply, which could lead to an infection.

There are many different types of staph infection, ranging from boils to blood poisoning, and some are resistant to common antibiotics.

Who is at risk of a staph infection?

Anyone can develop a staph infection, but some people are more prone to staph infections than others. Those who are more likely to develop infections include:

children and infants, who may develop an infection known as ‘school sores’ (impetigo) when they start attending daycare, preschool or school

people with a weakened immune system, such as those with HIV/AIDS or those taking medications to suppress their immune systems

people who regularly have medical equipment entering their body, such as during kidney dialysis or when using catheters, feeding or breathing tubes

people who have been in hospital for a long time, due to their contact with healthcare workers and proximity to other sick people.

How do I get a staph infection?

There are several different types of staph infection. Infections that occur on the skin can be passed on by air, food or contact with someone who has a staph infection, or by touching a contaminated surface.

Staph bacteria may cause an infection if there is an abundance of it on the surface of the skin or if it enters the body through broken skin such as wounds, cuts or grazes.

You can also become ill from staph aureus food poisoning if the food you eat is contaminated by staph bacteria.

Staph skin infections

Staph infections on the skin include impetigo, wound infection, cellulitis and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). You can learn more about this type of infection in the healthdirect staph skin infection article.

Invasive staph infections

Invasive staph infections are far less common than skin infections, but are usually more severe. There are many types of invasive staph infection and you can learn more by reading our invasive staph infections article.

How do I avoid getting a staph infection?

Staph skin infections

In most cases you can avoid developing a staph skin infection through basic hygiene. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water and dry them with a clean towel, or disposable paper towel.

In particular, wash your hands:

before and after touching or cleaning an infected area

after going to the bathroom

after blowing your nose

before handling and eating food

after handling animals, including domestic pets.

If you live with someone who has a staph skin infection you may be able to avoid developing the infection by:

not sharing any personal items with them such as toothbrushes, towels, clothes and linen

washing your hands immediately if you come into contact with them

ensuring their bedding and towels are cleaned daily, with hot water and bleach, before their infection disappears.

Washing your hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom, before and after preparing food and after being in a crowded area can also reduce your risk of developing the infection.

Staphylococcal food poisoning

You can avoid food poisoning by ensuring that high standards of food hygiene are maintained throughout the cooking process.

Cleaning

When cooking, keep hands, work surfaces and cooking utensils clean.

Wash hands before preparing food and after:

going to the bathroom

touching raw food

touching bins

handling pets.

Avoid handling food if you are ill, particularly with stomach problems or if you have open sores and cuts.

Cooking food properly

Meat should be cooked right through.

If you reheat food, make sure it is hot all the way through. Never reheat food more than once.

Chilling food properly

Food needs to be kept at the right temperature to prevent harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Food that needs to be refrigerated should always be stored in the fridge, which should be set at 0-5°C.

Always check the label on the packaging for the correct storage instructions.

Cooked leftovers should not be left out to cool for more than an hour before being put in the fridge or freezer.

Avoid cross-contamination

Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria is transferred from one food (usually a raw food) to another food.

This can happen when the contaminated food is in direct contact with the other food, or when bacteria from contaminated food is spread through hands, utensils or work surfaces to other foods.

You can avoid cross-contaminating food by:

always washing your hands after touching raw food

storing raw foods separately from other foods

storing raw meat in sealed containers and keeping the containers at the bottom of the fridge, so that it cannot leak onto other food

using a separate chopping board for raw food and other food, or washing chopping boards thoroughly between uses

cleaning utensils thoroughly after using them for raw food

not washing raw meat or poultry, since washing may spray harmful bacteria around the kitchen.

How are staph infections treated?

Simple ones can be treated at home. Serious ones need to be treated in hospital with intravenous antibiotics and other treatments.

Antibiotic resistance

Some staph aureus is resistant to many antibiotics. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has a strong resistance to an antibiotic called methicillin and can cause severe infections that cannot be treated using most antibiotics.

With the development of MRSA, doctors have become more cautious about prescribing antibiotics, and people have been warned against taking them unless there is a clear need. Doing this will help reduce the risk of bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.